Abia State’s Governor Alex Otti has announced the return of Aba as a major industrial and commercial destination in the West African sub-region.
Otti made the declaration at the ongoing Aba International Trade Fair at the Aba Mega Mall complex, along the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.
The 10-day event, which runs from November 28 to December 7, 2024, is a collaboration between the state government and the Aba Chamberof Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (ACCIMA), with the theme “Abia Reforms, Limitless Opportunities.”
The Governor urged businesses that had previously left Aba to return, as the challenges that caused their departure have been significantly reduced.
“If you are seeking investment opportunities, Aba is an ideal destination, ripe with potential for development, from real estate to manufacturing, agriculture, and hospitality.
We are ready to provide all the support you need to build great success here,” Otti assured. While welcoming foreign and local businesses,
Otti expressed pride in hosting the trade fair and promised to provide all necessary support to make their participation memorable. He also commended ACCIMA for helping elevate the regular Aba trade fair to an international level.
The Chairman of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, ACCIMA, Geoffrey Uzoagbara, praised Governor Otti’s reforms, noting that Abia has experienced remarkable progress over the past year.
“Abia State has not had it so good until Otti’s emergence as Governor,” he said, highlighting reforms across various sectors, including infrastructure, security, ease of doing business, and industrial development.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the planning committee and Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade, Mr. Nwaka Inem, described the trade fair as a bold statement to announce Aba’s resurgence as a hub of commerce and entrepreneurship in West Africa.